The Gainesville Police Department said the incident happened in June at the Bambi Motel at 2119 SW 13th St. The girl was staying in the same room with her grandmother and the grandmother's boyfriend, who is the suspect in the case.

The victim told investigators that she had been asleep in the middle of the night and woke up to find Chester Franklin Smith, of 3092 N. Oakland Terrace in Crystal River, in her bed. According to the victim, Smith was fondling her and she told him to stop but he continued. The girl said even though she told Smith his actions were hurting her, he continued.

The grandmother told Officer Victoria Young that Smith went to sleep in the same bed she was in, but when she woke in the middle of the night, she realized he was in the other bed. The grandmother also said she directed Smith to get back into her bed because she knew the 11-year-old's father would be upset.

When Smith was questioned by police, Young said he claimed he changed beds in the middle of the night to have more room to sleep and that the victim was asleep and unaware that he had been in bed with her.

Court records show Smith is also under investigation by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office for allegations of sex crimes against the same victim in Citrus County.

Smith was benig held at the Alachua County jail on Saturday under a $150,000 bond.

<p>GAINESVILLE – A 74-year-old Citrus County school bus driver was arrested early Saturday and charged with sexually battering an 11-year-old girl last summer in a Gainesville motel.</p><p>The Gainesville Police Department said the incident happened in June at the Bambi Motel at 2119 SW 13th St. The girl was staying in the same room with her grandmother and the grandmother's boyfriend, who is the suspect in the case.</p><p>The victim told investigators that she had been asleep in the middle of the night and woke up to find Chester Franklin Smith, of 3092 N. Oakland Terrace in Crystal River, in her bed. According to the victim, Smith was fondling her and she told him to stop but he continued. The girl said even though she told Smith his actions were hurting her, he continued.</p><p>The grandmother told Officer Victoria Young that Smith went to sleep in the same bed she was in, but when she woke in the middle of the night, she realized he was in the other bed. The grandmother also said she directed Smith to get back into her bed because she knew the 11-year-old's father would be upset.</p><p>When Smith was questioned by police, Young said he claimed he changed beds in the middle of the night to have more room to sleep and that the victim was asleep and unaware that he had been in bed with her.</p><p>Court records show Smith is also under investigation by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office for allegations of sex crimes against the same victim in Citrus County.</p><p>Smith was benig held at the Alachua County jail on Saturday under a $150,000 bond.</p>